StampSelector is an online philatelic investment and stamp market resource, providing practical information for stamp collectors, stamp dealers, and investors. This includes stamp investment tips, general commentary on the stamp market, and practical advice regarding building a stamp collection and profiting from philately.

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Sunday, September 28, 2014

In 1945, Portugal issued a souvenir sheet honoring its famous navigators (Scott #649a). 50,000 of the souvenir sheet were issued, and Scott '14 prices it unused at $32.50 ($47.50 for NH) .

The souvenir sheet should do well as it appeals to topicalists collecting either Famous Individuals or Nautical subjects, and it also represents a bet on Portugal's eventual recovery from the European financial crisis.

Note that many of Portugal's souvenir sheets from this period were issued on thin paper, and many of them have bends or creases. When purchasing one, ascertain that the sheet is free of these defects.

A nation of 10.6 million people, Portugal is a high income mixed economy, and its major industries include agriculture, fishing, mining, tourism, automobile production , electronics, textiles, and chemicals. The Financial Crisis of 2008 is still affecting the Portuguese economy severely, causing a wide range of domestic problems specifically related to the levels of public deficit in the economy, as well as the excessive debt levels. Portugal's average annual GDP growth over the past 5 years has been flat, reflecting economic contractions in 2009 (2.9%) and 2011 (1.6%).

Thursday, September 25, 2014

In 1944, Colombia issued a set and souvenir sheet honoring a charitable organization - the General Benevolent Association of Cundinamarca (Scott #508-12, 513). 10,000 of each were issued, and Scott '14 values them unused at $22.50 and $35.00, respectively.

I consider both the set and the souvenir sheet extremely undervalued. They represent very low-risk investments in the economic growth of Colombia, the growth of its stamp collecting community, and the increasing interest in Latin American stamps in general.

A nation of 45 million people, Colombia has been plagued by decades of
serious internal armed conflict, drug trafficking, corruption, and gross
inequities of income, but has nevertheless racked up impressive annual
GDP growth averaging 5.5% over the last 5 years. Moreover, until the
global financial fiasco cut its GDP growth to 3% in 2009, it had been
steadily accelerating, from 2% in 2003 to 8% in 2008. Recently, the
government, armed to the teeth by the U.S., has applied a dual policy of
combining military pressure with negotiations to cope with the various
guerrilla factions within the country. This seems to have worked to some
extent, as the number of insurgents has been halved, and the number of
homicides and kidnappings drastically reduced. While some argue that the
Colombian government is still utterly corrupt, and has violated human
rights and supported paramilitary death squads in order to achieve
relative peace, it may be that this is par for the course, given the
nation's history. A dialogue between the Colombian government and
guerrillas of the FARC-EP began in 2012 with the aim to find a political
solution to the armed conflict. The Colombian government and rebel
groups met in Cuba, and as of November 2013, the talks have been
promising. The Government also began a process of assistance and
reparation for victims of conflict.The main challenge that the country
faces will be that
of sharing more of the wealth with the majority of the population so as
to develop more of a middle class and political center. Otherwise, it
will devolve into a violent, unstable mess.

"The Stamp Specialist"
blog features my buy prices for stamps which I am interested in
purchasing. I've posted a buy list for Colombia. Viewing dealers' buy
lists every now and then is an excellent way to keep up with the
vagaries of the stamp market.

Sunday, September 21, 2014

In 1931, New Guinea issued its first airmail by applying a pictorial overprint to its1925-28 Native Huts issue (Scott #C1-13). A total of 4,020 sets
were issued, and Scott '14 prices the unused set at $311.70.

While it's often wise to purchase expensive overprinted stamps
conditional on obtaining expertization, such caution is unnecessary because in
this case the basic non-overprinted set is actually more expensive.

Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural resources, but
exploitation has been hampered by the rugged terrain and the high cost
of developing infrastructure. Agriculture provides a subsistence
livelihood for most of the population of about 7 million. Annual GDP
growth has increased dramatically over the last 5 years, from 1% in 2005
to about 7% in 2009. Still, the majority of the population is extremely
poor, and I do not foresee the development of a significant collecting
population within the country for some time.

Most of the collectors of Papua New Guinea are British Commonwealth
collectors or Australians, because the country was administered by
Australia until 1975 and maintains close ties with that nation. I
recommend purchase of the better stamps of Papua, New Guinea, and Papua
New Guinea based on the probable growth in interest among Australian
collectors and collectors of British Commonwealth.

Those interested in becoming part of an international community of stamp
collectors, dealers, and investors are encouraged to join the "Stampselectors" group at Facebook. The
group hosts lively discussions concerning stamp investment and practical
aspects of collecting, and provides a useful venue for those who wish to
buy, sell, or trade stamps.

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

In 1959, Kuwait, then a British protectorate, issued an attractive engraved set of thirteen stamps with scenes related to its oil industry (Scott #140-52). 51,658 sets were issued, and Scott '14 prices an unused set at $ 54.45 . It is likely that most were used as postage and discarded.

The set appeals to both collectors of Kuwait and British Commonwealth.

A country of just
under 3 million people, Kuwait is the 5th richest country in the world,
with proven oil reserves of 104 billion barrels, and annual GDP growth
of just under 6%. It is also developing its other major industries,
which include shipping, construction, cement, water desalination,
construction materials and financial services.

There are a number
of scarce and undervalued issues from the Gulf States which I view as
bargains. Assuming that these countries can maintain their economic
growth, diversify away from their current near-total dependence on oil
revenues, and avoid internal political instability or military conflicts
with their neighbors, their better stamps should all do well.

Those interested in learning about investing in stamps should read the Guide to Philatelic Investing ($5), available on Kindle and easily accessible from any computer.

Sunday, September 14, 2014

In 1961, Cuba issued a set and souvenir sheet portraying the Cuban revolutionary hero Jose Marti, and commemorating the Declaration of Havana (Scott #221a). 30,000 were issued, and Scott '14 prices the unused sheet at $15.00.

This souvenir sheet should
do very well when Cuba rejoins the crassly commercial, capitalist world,
perhaps retaining a bit of a socialist safety net to keep the masses
complacent. It will also benefit from the long-term stealth bull
market in better Latin American sets, which began around twenty years
ago after the region's oligarchical dictatorships went out of style.

I
believe it inevitable that Cuba will join the fold of more-or-less free
nations, and that tourism and trade will explode as a result.
Currently, the average wage of each of the 11 1/2 million people living
in this "socialist utopia" is under $20 per month, and GDP per capita is
107th in the world. Annual GDP growth has been high, averaging 4.5%
over the last 5 years, but given the levels of corruption and favoritism
shown to high ranking Communist Party members, it's an open question
whether much of that new wealth has been filtering downward. Eventually,
something will have to give. The current market for Cuban stamps,
especially of the Pre-Castro Period, is bolstered by interest of stamp
collectors within Cuban-American community, currently about 1.6 million
strong, and far wealthier than their compatriots on the island. Interest
in Cuban stamps is likely to increase, especially given the likely
prospect of a replacement of the stale, "gerontocratic" regime within a
decade or so.

The Stamp Specialist features my buy lists for stamps which I wish to purchase,
including some Cuban stamps. Periodically viewing dealers' buy lists is
an excellent way to remained informed about the state of the stamp
market.

Thursday, September 11, 2014

In 1938, Hungary issued a semi-postal souvenir sheet honoring the Eucharistic Congress, which was held that year in Budapest (Scott #B94). 100,000 were issued, and Scott '14 prices the unused souvenir sheet at $50.00.

While recent economic reversals in Europe have hurt the stamp market there, I feel that for most of the countries, the situation is unpleasant but short-term. In the meantime, there are opportunities to pick up bargains, and scarce items with topical appeal are worth considering.

After a difficult transition from a centrally-controlled economy to capitalism, Hungary has experienced moderate economic growth until it was impacted by the 2008-09 financial crisis. As a result of the global financial mess, GDP growth has been almost flat over the past five years. As the newest member of the European Union, this nation of 10 million receives nearly a third of all direct investment flowing into Eastern Europe. Agriculture, metallurgy and mining, and tourism are major components of the economy.

Sunday, September 7, 2014

From 1948 to 1958, South Korea issued presentation sheets featuring
the designs of its regular postage stamps. These ungummed, often crudely
produced sheets were issued in very low quantities and given to
dignitaries, including friends of the President,
as the country was not completely devoid of cronyism. The Michel
catalog lists these sheets, but Scott does not, although it mentions
them. They frequently sell at auction for between 10% and 20% of Michel,
and I consider them grossly undervalued due to the uncertainty about
their legitimacy. They were issued during a period of war and the gradual recovery from it, when the country was very poor, and they are as scarce as hen's teeth. Despite the fact that Scott only notes Korean presentation sheets generally and doesn't list them individually, thereby implicitly questioning their legitimacy, they're so scarce and their potential market so large that they represent interesting and low-risk investments.

In 1955, South Korea issued a set of two presentation sheets
celebrating the President Syngman Rhee's 3rd Inauguration (Michel Block 98-99). 1,000 sets were issued, and Michel prices the set at 700.-
Euros (about $ 950.-). I recommend purchase of the set if it offered
at around $95.- to $190.- (about 10%-20% of Michel CV).

A nation of about 50 million people, South Korea is one of the fastest
growing economies in the world. Currently, it is the world's 13th
largest economy and eighth largest exporter. It's export-fueled economic
growth has led to a miraculous explosion in its GDP, from almost
nothing 50 years ago to about $1 trillion today. Annual GDP growth has
averaged about 4% over the last 5 years, reflecting a slowdown in 2009
due to the global financial crisis. Furthermore, South Korea may be the
most rapidly aging nation on earth, as its 65+ population is expected to
more than quadruple from 9% in 2005 to 38% in 2050. Obviously, this
could pose economic challenges for the country, but it will almost
certainly add to its stamp collecting population.

Those interested in becoming part of an international community of stamp
collectors, dealers, and investors are encouraged to join the "Stampselectors" group at Facebook. The
group hosts lively discussions concerning stamp investment and practical
aspects of collecting, and provides a useful venue for those who wish to
buy, sell, or trade stamps.

Thursday, September 4, 2014

In 2010, Kazakhstan issued a stamp honoring the World Football Cup competition, held in South Africa that year (Scott # 620 ). 30,000 stamps were issued, and Scott '15 prices the unused stamp at $4.50 .

The stamp makes an interesting and very low-risk speculation based on its appeal as a Sports/Soccer opical, and as a bet on the economic growth of Kazakhstan and the
development of a stamp market there. This recommendation is consistent
with my belief that one of the best ways to play the new and newly
resurrected countries of Europe and Asia is to focus on popular topicals
with low printings. Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, with a following of
billions of fans, many of whom live in emerging market
nations. Philatelic investors who focus on better Soccer topicals will
almost certainly score a goal financially.

A nation of 16 million, Kazakhstan is known to many outsiders from the
somewhat demeaning film comedy "Borat." It is the 9th largest country in
the world, with a territory greater than that of Western Europe,
although its population density is less than 15 per square mile.
Kazakhstan has plentiful reserves of oil, natural gas, uranium,
chromium, lead, zinc, manganese, coal, iron, and gold. It also has a
major agricultural sector, and is the seventh largest producer of grain.
Annual GDP growth has averaged over 5% over the last 5 years.

Those interested in learning about investing in stamps should read the Guide to Philatelic Investing ($5), available on Kindle and easily accessible from any computer.